Rice: Finally some runs and some baserunning blunders

By Jonathan Yardley - February 18, 2007

Never underestimate the power of a good jinx. After posting about a scoreless game, Rice came out and got a run in the bottom of the third inning. We've also got some numbers on Long Beach State's baserunning woes this weekend.

J.P. Padron led off with a bloop double down the right-field line that fell between three Long Beach State players, but at least they didn’t tumble into each other like in the movies. After two fly ball outs moved Padron to third, Rice needed a two-out single from pint-sized designated hitter Derek Myers- making only his second start of the year – to get the run in. The hit got extra-loud cheers from the section just in front of the press box, so I’m thinking Myers, who was a high school standout at Bellaire High School in Houston, brought the family today.

True to form in this series, Long Beach State responded with a run of its own in the top of the fourth, with both hits coming on change-ups pulled over the third-base bag. Danny Espinosa’s single scored Jason Corder, who had doubled. It was the first run of the season against Savery in more than nine innings. Espinosa stole second with one out but got carried away trying to distract Savery and got caught between second and third to end the inning.

Known for aggressive baseball, LBSU has made a lot of outs on the bases this weekend. The Dirtbags are 1-5 stealing bases this weekend, have been thrown out twice at home plate and were caught unaware on Friday’s triple play.